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The 6,088 fresh cases reported in India in the last 24 hours took the national total to 118,447. — AFP/File

BANGKOK: India reported its biggest single-day spike in new virus cases on Friday ahead of resuming domestic flights after a two-month halt.

The 6,088 fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours took the national total to 118,447. Deaths rose to 3,583 while more than 48,000 people have recovered, according to the health ministry.

Maharashtra continues to remain the worst-affected state in India with more than 41,000 cases after it added over 2,000 new infections for the fourth straight day. The number of fatalities in the state rose to 1,454, highest in the country.

India has the 11th most confirmed cases in the world. It has eased its nationwide lockdown to restart economic activities and gave states more power to set the next phase of reopenings. Some domestic flights will resume from Monday.

In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region: South Korea reported 20 new cases as authorities scramble to stem transmissions as schools are reopening. The figures announced by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday brought national totals to 11,142 cases and 264 deaths. South Korea has managed to stabilise infections with aggressive tracing and testing. Its schools began reopening on Wednesday, though dozens in Incheon, near Seoul, sent students back home after some of them tested positive. More students are to return to schools next week. Meanwhile, South Korean health authorities are reviewing the possible use of Apple and Googles new smartphone technology that automatically notifies users when they’d come close to infected people. But officials also say it isn’t clear whether the Bluetooth-based apps would meaningfully boost the country’s technology-driven fight against Covid-19, where health workers have aggressively used cellphone data, credit-card records and surveillance footage to trace and isolate potential virus carriers.

China reported four new confirmed cases, including two in the northeastern province of Jilin that has seen China’s latest outbreak. Another 372 people are in isolation and undergoing monitoring for being suspected cases or for testing positive without showing symptoms; 82 people remain in hospitals being treated for Covid-19. The new cases come as China opens the delayed session of its ceremonial parliament, the National Peoples Congress, which is being held largely behind closed doors in Beijing to avoid cross-infections as China seeks to avoid a second-wave of cases. The country has reported a total of 4,634 deaths among 82,971 cases.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says China has made solid progress in fighting the coronavirus outbreak, but must redouble our efforts to minimize the losses ... and fulfill the targets and tasks for economic and social development this year. In his address Friday to the annual session of China’s ceremonial parliament, Li called the outbreak the most challenging public health emergency China has encountered since the founding of the Peoples Republic in 1949. He said China wishes to strengthen cooperation with other countries on countering the virus, and uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and an international order based on international law. The US in particular has been highly critical of China’s handling of the initial outbreak in the city of Wuhan and suspended funding for the UN’s World Health Organisation partly over what it says is a pro-China bias.

Comments (13) Closed

These are still early days. The virus will not go anywhere till a vaccine is found. So nobody should throw caution to the wind. Stay safe.

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Sairbeen plus.

May 23, 2020 01:51pm

India is second most highest populated nation. Obviously it could take time to eliminate Covid-19.

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Iftikhar Husain

May 23, 2020 01:56pm

China has won the fight against virus.

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Mumbaikar

May 23, 2020 01:59pm

Government bad decisions have hurt Indians very badly.

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madan

May 23, 2020 02:27pm

Mumbaikar,where are you in Mumbai?

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Yogesh

May 23, 2020 02:38pm

@Mumbaikar, What about you?

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Yogesh

May 23, 2020 02:39pm

Its surging in China, South Korea.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

May 23, 2020 03:09pm

Nobody knows the ground realities, it will take time to get correct fatalities figures from rural areas. The final figures will not be known for some time, and will increase substantially in the near future. Why should Modi reveal high fatalities that could cause panic? - so, it is best to keep public in dark for personal and political motives.
(Note: I regularly advocate my impartial views against injustice, inequality, oppression and nepotism without supporting any of the political parties. My family, country and people's well-being are far more important to me than anything else - be aware of fake ID's!).

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anil sahu

May 23, 2020 05:43pm

it is proved everywhere the cases will be surged before declining fast. recovery rate till now 41% which is great

Extending lockdown would have angered many a people who are not earning now and losing their savings. As such rules were relaxed with precautionary measures. However,, because of some people not following the rules properly will increase the infected numbers for short term. Ultimately, it will be better for the people!